Misery for Shedden at Brandsposted in BTCC10 | 10 | 2010

FIFER GORDON Shedden's hopes of lifting the British Touring Car Championship for a first time disappeared at the end of the warm-up lap for the second of today's races at Brands Hatch when the driveshaft on his Honda Civic broke.

"It's a hugely disappointing, heartbreaking way to end the season," the 30-year-old from Dalgety Bay said after watching Jason Plato clinch the title with back-to-back race wins in his Chevrolet.

"We came into the weekend third in the championship and after finishing second in today's opening race we still had a glimmer of hope that we could lift the title. But when the driveshaft broke during the warm-up lap, that was it; game over."

Shedden will head into today's final race of the season-ending triple-header desperate to hold on to his third place in the championship.

Plato, carrying maximum 45kg ballast in his car, again led from start to finish as he totally dominated the race to clinch the 60th win of his BTCC career, equalling the record set by Andy Rouse.

"Winning the championship is fantastic for everyone associated with the team," Plato said afterwards. "So far the weekend's been perfect. Now, with the pressure off, I'm gunning for three race wins in a row."

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Jim McGill